# `auth.missing_key` — API key missing

**HTTP status:** 401  
**Retryable:** no — change the request or the flow first

## When it happens

The request has no `Authorization: Bearer <key>` header, or it carries a panel login token instead of an API key. The public API only accepts API keys.

## What to do

Create a key in your panel under Developers → API keys and send it as `Authorization: Bearer tam_live_…`.

## Example response

```json
{
  "type": "https://quickota.com/developers/errors/auth.missing_key",
  "title": "API key missing",
  "status": 401,
  "code": "auth.missing_key",
  "detail": "The request has no \u0060Authorization: Bearer \u003Ckey\u003E\u0060 header, or it carries a panel login token instead of an API key. The public API only accepts API keys.",
  "suggestion": "Create a key in your panel under Developers \u2192 API keys and send it as \u0060Authorization: Bearer tam_live_\u2026\u0060.",
  "retryable": false,
  "requestId": "req_7f3a2c9e41d0b8a6c5e21f90"
}
```

See [Errors](https://quickota.com/developers/guides/errors) for how to handle errors in general.